How unscrupulous manufacturers profit from environmental issues and charge us extra money for products and products that harm the environment. Eco-friendly living is no longer a fad for the rich. Now it is a ubiquitous trend and is relevant for each of us. Many businesses and brands are actively trying to produce as little carb footprint and less plastic as possible.
In addition, there is a demand for environmentally friendly products and means. And demand creates supply. But the worst thing is that greenwashing arises from this.
What is greenwashing
Greenwashing is a marketing strategy that misuses “eco-tagging” or green marketing.
Simply put, they are trying to sell us non-environmentally friendly products and means. Also, the purpose of greenwashing is to create the illusion that the brand is aimed at the production of environmentally friendly products and services.
A prime example of greenwashing is that the company claims that its products are made from recycled plastic, but this is true for very few products. At the same time, the company deliberately exaggerates its environmental friendliness in advertising in order to mislead consumers and take advantage of the growing demand for eco-friendly products.
Very often, eco-products are much more expensive than ordinary ones, so companies do this not only to improve the image but also to enrich themselves.
And yes. Greenwashing is not a newfangled buzzword. In fact, such a phenomenon appeared in the 1960s. Companies began creating ads that purportedly made them greener so that consumers would trust them more.
What is greenwashing
So what is greenwashing like? Here is a list of the most common variations:
- Secret agreement. The company shows an environmentally friendly facade, but at the same time its decisions and actions are not environmentally friendly
- Unsubstantiated claims. The company claims that its products are environmentally friendly, but does not show proof
- Meaningless marks on the wrapper . It often comes with a “not tested on animals” label. This label is meaningless if animal testing is required in the country of origin. All Chinese cosmetics, for example, are tested on animals.
- Eco image . The company uses a lot of leaves, grass, animal images and other things on the wrapper that echo the “green” theme. Eco-friendly brands generally choose not to.
- False characteristic . The products are labeled as “all natural” and there is no additional evidence for this.
How to recognize greenwashing
How to understand that the company whose products you want to buy is not really the most environmentally friendly, but only tries to appear so? We have compiled a list of the most common signs that dishonest companies give out.
1. Screaming notes
“Bio”, “Eco”, “100% natural” are highlighted brightly and loudly. These statements are included in the description of the product as well as in the title. Think a few times before you buy a product whose “environmental friendliness” they really want to show.
2. Allegedly eco-friendly packaging
The packaging of a truly eco-friendly product has a special label that indicates where it can be recycled. And beware of biodegradable bags – they are just as harmful to the environment as ordinary ones.
3. Incomplete information
If the composition of the product is not complete or the ingredients are not given in the order expected. For example, the manufacturer indicates on the package “with organic oil”, but at the same time, organic oil is in the last position in the composition. This means that this very oil is negligible there.
4. Fake eco-certificate
Eco-certificate can be easily broken through a special service. If there is no brand name there, then the eco-certificate was used illegally.
5. False labeling
They forge the label of an eco-friendly product, making it look similar. It is much easier to check through a special application for scanning eco-labels.
Did you buy something because of the label?
